Roll Call Attendees: Jerad Cypher, President, Mary Taufer, Vice President, Council Members-Tamara Chacko, Charles McHugh, Matt Boice, Guy Tucci, Solicitor Dennis Makel, Michael Gomber,
Mayor, Sarah Boyce, Widmer Engineering, Secretary, Sandy Motichak
Pledge of Allegiance Lead by President, Jerad Cypher.
Motion Chris Mascara, second Tamara Chacko to table minutes of March 6, 2017 and Continuation of meeting March 13, 2017 for clarification. Motion passed.
Motion Tamara Chacko second Charles McHugh, to approve bills, – General $ 15,875.35. Motion passed.
Report – Joyce Ellis, Citizens Library. Reported she attended the Citizens Library meeting. The Board discussed the Bi-laws of the Library and noted a per capita charge instead of a certain dollar amount of assessment. Currently at $2.00 per capita therefore our assessment for 2018 would be $5,000.00.
Ms. Ellis was concerned when an intruder entered the library. However, the City of Washington police and East Washington Borough may walk through the library during their shifts for the safety of others in the Library. Ms. Ellis asked if the Council would be willing to partner with the Lemoyne Center and participate in a family night during the months of June, July, and August. Activities could include movies, Jazz bands, games, activities for children and the event would take place rain or shine.
President Jerad Cypher and other Council members agreed it was a very good idea for the community.
Public Comment
Cissy Cameron Christman Avenue. Ms. Cameron stated she was interested in being on the Park and Shade Commission. As coordinator for the Butterfly Habitat in East Washington, she said the butterflies are worse than ever. East Washington Borough was appointed by the University of Minnesota, as the designated area for Washington County. A suggestion was made to include information about the Butterfly Habitat on our website.
Tim Hurney, 10 Wilmont Ave. Mr. Hurney indicated he has lived in East Washington Borough only 5 years, however he was concerned with the police protection and being safe and a family community.
He said that there was an abandoned car on his street for several weeks and addressed the issue with police and the Mayor. The car was finally removed. He is wondering where the police are, how can they improve protection. Mayor Gomber replied that citizen’s safety is his main concern. There is one officer on duty per shift, however if you have concerns to please call the Chief directly. There has been some crime in East Washington such as drug activity and/or break-ins, theft, etc. The Mayor reiterated to call him or the Chief directly with any issues.
Action Items
Motion Tamara Chacko, second Chris Mascara to approve Ordinance 533 of 2017 –Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO). (advertised by Makel) Motion passed.
Motion Chris Mascara, second Guy Tucci, to approve Ordinance 534 of 2017 – Wash-EWB Joint Zoning Ordinance and Joint Zoning Map. (advertised by Makel) Motion passed.
Reports:
Secretary – Ethics Forms due
Public Works – Borough Building renovations status, Salt Lot Culvert – See Engineer Report
Police Department – Chief Absent
Code Enforcement Officer – gave report.
Council Members:
Jerad Cypher – President Cypher stated that we received a nice thank you letter from Citizens Library for our donation and the reports from Ms. Joyce Ellis were informative and useful. President Cypher indicated he is working on some procedures and policies for the borough regarding invoices and bidding processes. All Council members need to know what is going on. To be presented at a future meeting.
Mary Taufer – Vice President Taufer stated that she and President Cypher met with our building inspector from Codesys, Bob Fisher and discussed the borough building basement and he indicated that there is a possibility that since the building is considered historical, we may not have to adhere to certain UCC codes. However, he suggested East Washington Borough hire an architect to plan the basement layout. His concern is the height of the ceilings, and bathroom handicap accessibility 6 x 5 foot space requirements. Other items in the basement discussed were the stairs and an ADA accessible ramp to enter the back door.
Matt Boice – Council member Boice wrote a letter to PENNDOT regarding the Beau Street speeding and traffic as recommended by Rep. Brandon Neuman. The purpose was to try to reduce speeding on Beau Street.
Council Member Boice addressed council saying that council seems to be spending a great deal of time disagreeing on matters. It seems we are wasting too much time, cleaning up past council issues and current issues that seem to be about winning versus doing what is right for the community. Mr. Boice felt the Borough has no long range plan for the next several years. He indicated that it is apparent we are reactive instead of proactive. He stated Council has done nothing to attract people to live in this borough. He noted that the borough would be celebrating their 125th Anniversary this year and should be planning a nice community celebration. Council should respect each other and if you disagree to agree to disagree respectfully. We become dysfunctional. We should not be concerned only about our street that we live on and look at the community as a whole. I recently attended an event and Mayor Putnam, City of Washington had approached me asking when East Washington Borough wants to be absorbed by the City. Finally, if we continue this way, is this what Council wants?
Tamara Chacko – None
Chris Mascara- Council member Mascara discussed sending a change to the Park and Shade Commission and to notify Cissy Cameron and Terry Costello to be on the Commission. Discussion continued with a list of names on the commission. President Cypher said a letter should be sent contacting all the people on the commission to name a chair person.
Chuck McHugh – Asked Aaron Lucero, Public Works to address the holes and patches at North Wade and Central Avenue.
Guy Tucci – None
Engineer – Sarah Boyce – Sheraton Drive status, Lemoyne Ave. status, NPDES permit -Salt Lot culvert. (Report below)
1. Regarding 177 Lemoyne Avenue, the project proposed to address the Borough stormwater affecting the private property is as follows: install an asphalt wedge swale along the west side of the roadway; place an inlet at the corner of the driveway where the wedge swale will meet the driveway; install 12” plastic pipe along the driveway width and outlet the pipe into the hillside; install a riprap protection apron to prevent hillside erosion. The estimated project cost is $10,250.
The next part of the project is to permanently fill the existing inlet on the east side of the road to prevent storm water from entering the private property. Then the existing drain pipe on the property from the toe of the hill to the driveway inlet to be cleaned out by the Borough. It is noted that this will be the last time the Borough will clean this property and after this, it will be the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain their structures and address the property storm water.
Discussions were had relating to how the repaving project by PennDOT caused the problem. Ms. Boyce explained that this was a problem that the Borough was aware of prior to the repaving project, they added to the problem, but did not directly cause it.
2. Sheraton Avenue is currently in the design phase. Widmer has received information from ACA Engineering, the geotechnical and structural consultant, regarding the repair. We are working with them to finalize details of the slide repair. Once that is completed, Widmer will complete the design of the newly proposal storm sewer and the roadway reconstruction. Ms. Boyce also mentioned that we have encountered a concern relating to the existing utilities in the hillside. Both the sanitary sewer and water mainlines are located along Lemoyne Ext. and have service laterals that run through the existing hillside. Widmer is working with the PA American Water and WEWJA to address these concerns and come to the best solution for all the parties involved. One large concern is whom is responsible to pay for the new lines (Borough, Authorities, or Property Owners). These decisions will have be made prior to the start of construction. Currently Widmer is hoping for the bidding period during end of May into the beginning to June, with a July – September construction timeframe.
The cost estimate of $161,000 that was presented at the Feb. 2017 meeting was discussed. Again it was explained this was only an estimate and we will not the final price until the project is completed.
3. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit has been authorized on the Salt Lot and green space property. The intent of this permit to permit earth moving activities for the entire site, so that the Borough does not have to seek individual permits every time they want to perform work on the site. The permit is valid for 5 years and can receive an extension if justified. The items to be included into the permit are the addition of the storage pole barn, a municipal works building, a park pavilion and a gravel roadway from McKennan to Chrisman. The permit will allow the borough to regulate the storm water on the site, which is beneficial to the MS4 program.
4. Wilmont paving
5. Aaron Lucero, Public Works proposed that Alex Paris Construction would do milling and paving of a 13 foot wide strip west bound on Wilmont to improve the overall driving condition of the roadway until the Borough had the funds to install the storm sewer system. The cost was approximately $15,500. The storm sewer system was estimated at $150K and did not include paving of any of the roadway, unless full depth reconstruction was required. The council felt they had the funds available and did not feel the amount of $15K was worth the expense at this time. This topic has been essentially tabled until the Borough knows the outcome of the Sheraton Slide Project.
Mayor – Michael Gomber – Discussed a concern regarding the knob and tube wiring. He believes there is a misunderstanding about enforcing the ordinance to make people change their wiring. It was noted that if a homeowner updates, changes or adds any new construction to their home that the wiring should be in compliance with the current. IPMC-National Electric Code. Mayor Gomber also stated that any future ordinance is to be reviewed prior to passing or he may exercise his right to Veto an ordinance until such time that it is made clear what is being passed. Ordinances require both the President of Council and Mayors signature.
Solicitor – Dennis Makel
Unfinished Business
New Business
Yard sales /mercantile retail business – Council discussed the current ordinance and Code Officer stated that a weekly yard sale was conducted at 16 S. Wade and vendors were selling goods out of their trucks which which requires a mercantile business license. Council and Solicitor to review the ordinance.
Motion Matt Boice, second Chris Mascara to continue the meeting at the call of the President 9:15pm. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Motichak
Secretary